Gloucester maintain perfect Premier 15s record

Zoe Aldcroft won World Rugby Player of the Year in 2021

Gloucester-Hartpury made it 10 wins from 10 games with a 19-17 victory over Bristol Bears in the Premier 15s' West Country derby on Saturday.

The win means Gloucester have now won more games so far this season than they did during the entire 2021-22 campaign.

Bristol, however, have lost five games from nine fixtures and are sixth in the table.

• Watch on BBC iPlayer: Bristol Bears v Gloucester-Hartpury

Gloucester's Emma Sing scored a try to break the deadlock at a sold-out Shaftesbury Park after 15 minutes, and Rachel Lund raced over the line shortly after.

But Bristol's Simi Pam eventually punctured Gloucester's defence to put a dent in their momentum.

It did not last long, and a few moments later the league's top try scorer Ellie Rugman re-established Gloucester's 12-point lead to make the score 19-7 at half-time.

A buoyant Bristol came out firing in the second half, with Amber Reed scoring and Lark Davies reaping the reward of a driving maul. Elinor Snowsill missed the conversion, which meant Gloucester maintained a narrow two-point lead, and they defended it to seal the win.

Elsewhere in the league, Exeter Chiefs thumped DMP Sharks 61-0, defending champions Saracens beat Wasps 78-3, and Sale Sharks clinched a 36-34 win against Worcester Warriors.

Harlequins host Loughborough Lightning in the final match of the round on Sunday.

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